One of the greatest things about our Christian faith is the community that comes with it. God did not design humans to exist on our own—we all depend on one another for support and strength. It is the same with ministries.

At Christian Friends of New Americans, we make an effort to partner with other people and organizations to showcase what we do and provide opportunities for others to get involved. One of our steadfast partners is Concordia Seminary, who generously allows the use their campus for our annual 5K Freedom Run.

“The 5K was a great opportunity for Christian fellowship between the Seminary and Christian Friends of New Americans,” commented first-year seminary student Peter Deberny. Peter has been faithfully volunteering with our After-School Tutoring program since January and also served on the event’s planning committee. “It was a fun and exciting experience.

”The Freedom Run, held on Sunday, May 5, was a friend raiser and a fundraiser for CFNA. It also provided a chance for people of the seminary community to get a sense of our purpose and to interact with some of the people we serve. Eighteen competitive runners vied for prizes while 54 others, including a group of New American children, enjoyed the beautiful weather while either running for fun, walking, or volunteering. Adding to the festivities were walking tacos, served in conjunction with Restore St. Louis, and a performance by our New American Folk Dancers. In addition to being an enjoyable experience for everyone involved, the occasion raised over $3,000 to support various CFNA ministries. Our thanks go to Dr. Ben Haupt for his words of welcome on behalf of Concordia Seminary. We thank God for partners like this, as well as for everyone who made the day possible.

By Samantha Hoyt Lutheran Young Adult Corps Photos by Ron Virus

The winners. Brian M (l. 1st) and Charles N. (r. 2nd)

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